Delhi's 'Ivory Palace', circa 1920s.

 A souvenir/ business card from the 1920s featuring Delhi’s 'Ivory Palace'. This also contains a turn of the century image of the shop near the Jama Masjid’s norther Gate. In the foreground you can see craftsmen at work, a tried and tested way to attract onlookers and spark interest.

The Ivory Palace was something of an institution in Delhi. Catering to foreign dignitaries and art collectors, it was also a patron of local craftsmen and jewellers that it took under its wing. The building had workshops and storage on its premises and occupied a fairly large plot. Moreover, like its competitors, Imre Schwaiger and the Indian Arts Palace (see previous posts), the Ivory Palace also supplied museums and international collectors across the world. 

By the 1920s, the business had diversified, venturing into the burgeoning photography market and supplying photographic materials and camera film.

The original premises of the Ivory Palace still stand today, now known by the founders’ names, Faqir Chand and Raghunath Das. However, the workshops appear to be shut, and the building lies derelict.

Any further information about the establishment would be greatly appreciated.

See you next week.